On the Mechanism of Nucleation and Monomer Transport in Inverse Emulsion Polymerization

A rationale for droplet nucleation during inverse emulsion polymerization (IEP) (reported by previous investigators) is proposed. Based on the idea that smaller monomer droplets are nucleated into polymer particles, while larger droplets serve as reservoirs for monomer (as in a micellar nucleation mechanism) the question of possible monomer-transport limitation during polymerization is explored.